Earth Science Test 1

Front 1

process by which certain bacteria convert organic nitrogen into ammonia and ammonium salts during decompostition

Back 1

ammonification

Front 2

process by which plants or animals convert nutrients into usable organic compounds, such as proteins

Back 2

assimilation

Front 3

the layer immediately surrounded the lower mantle; composed of molten rock

Back 3

asthenosphere

Front 4

the study of the universe beyond the earth

Back 4

astronomy

Front 5

the gaseous layer of a planet, usually retained by its gravity

Back 5

atmosphere

Front 6

the living organisms of earth

Back 6

biosphere

Front 7

the part of the earth's crust that forms landmasses

Back 7

continental crust

Front 8

theory proposed by Alfred Wegener that the continents once formed a single supercontinent that broke up and drifted apart

Back 8

continental drift

Front 9

process of heat transfer by the circulation or movement of gas, liquid or plastic material

Back 9

convection

Front 10

area where tectonic plates meet and push against each other

Back 10

convergent boundary

Front 11

innermost layer of the earth; divided into an inner and outer core

Back 11

core

Front 12

the outermost layer that forms the surface of the earth; upper part of the lithosphere

Back 12

crust

Front 13

the frozen water or ice system of a planet

Back 13

cryosphere

Front 14

bacteria and fungi that break down dead matter

Back 14

decomposers

Front 15

process by which certain bacteria converts nitrates into nitrogen gas

Back 15

dentrification

Front 16

process by which sediment flows into a reservoir

Back 16

deposition

Front 17

a process creating different compositions of a planet

Back 17

differentiation

Front 18

area where tectonic plates are moving away from each other

Back 18

divergent boundary

Front 19

two opposing forces in balance or when two opposite processes occur at equal rates

Back 19

equilibrium

Front 20

area along plate boundaries and ridges where the crust of the lithosphere is fractured

Back 20

fault line

Front 21

line of plants and animals that shows the order in which organisms are eaten

Back 21

food chain

Front 22

a diagram that shows the connections of food chains in an ecosystem

Back 22

food web

Front 23

a scientist who studies topics related to the structure and composition of earth

Back 23

geologist

Front 24

the study of the structure of the earth and the physical forces that continuously impact the structure of Earth itself

Back 24

geology

Front 25

all the layers of earth's interior and crust

Back 25

geosphere

Front 26

ancient, extinct plant species found on the continents of South America, Africa, India, Australia, and Antarctica

Back 26

glossopteris

Front 27

a natural and continuous cycle of Earth that recycles and distributes Earth's water; often called the water cycle

Back 27

hydrologic cycle

Front 28

the water system of Earth; solid, liquid, and gas phases

Back 28

hydrosphere

Front 29

innermost region of earth; solid, liquid and gas states

Back 29

inner core

Front 30

related to or possessing motion

Back 30

kinetic

Front 31

the cool, rigid shell that includes the crust and uppermost mantle; composed of plates that move around on the underlying, plastic asthenosphere

Back 31

lithosphere

Front 32

innermost layer of the two mantle layers; composed of rock and cooler than the core

Back 32

lower mantle

Front 33

middle layer of Earth; composed of an upper and lower mantle

Back 33

mantle

Front 34

small, extinct land reptile whose fossil remains have been found in western Africa and eastern South America

Back 34

Mesosaurus

Front 35

process of intense heat and pressure which changes igneous or sedimentary rock into metamorphic rock

Back 35

metamorphism

Front 36

a scientist who studies the changes in atmospheric conditions that produce different weather and climate patterns

Back 36

meteorologist

Front 37

the study of Earth's atmosphere and the processes that produce weather and climate conditions

Back 37

meteorology

Front 38

process by which certain bacteria convert ammonium into nitrates

Back 38

nitrification

Front 39

process by which certain bacteria in the soil convert nitrogen gas into ammonia and ammonium

Back 39

nitrogen fixation

Front 40

the part of Earth's crust located beneath the oceans and seas

Back 40

oceanic crust

Front 41

a scientist who studies the oceans of Earth using the scientific disciplines of biology, chemistry, physics, and geology

Back 41

oceanographer

Front 42

study of the earth's oceans

Back 42

oceanography

Front 43

layer immediately outside the inner core; composed of liquid iron and sulfur

Back 43

outer core

Front 44

meaning "all lands"; name of the supercontinent that is theorized to have contained all of the current continents in a single landmass

Back 44

pangaea

Front 45

meaning "all seas"; name of the single, large ocean that surrounded Pangaea

Back 45

panthalassa

Front 46

process by which green plants convert carbon dioxide, water, and energy from the Sun into sugars

Back 46

photosynthesis

Front 47

ability of a solid to flow

Back 47

plasticity

Front 48

the theory that the lithosphere is broken into pieces that float on the asthenosphere

Back 48

plate tectonics

Front 49

something possible; ability to go into action or perform work

Back 49

potential

Front 50

organisms that eat producers

Back 50

primary consumers

Front 51

process by which living cells produce usable energy from food

Back 51

respiration

Front 52

natural and continuous cycle of Earth that recycles Earth's minerals

Back 52

rock cycle

Front 53

process by which the earth's lithospheric plates pull apart from each other, creating gaps that are filled with magma from the asthenosphere

Back 53

seafloor spreading

Front 54

organisms that eat primary consumers

Back 54

secondary consumers

Front 55

area where an oceanic plate sinks into the asthenosphere under another plate

Back 55

subduction zone

Front 56

natural and continuous cycle of Earth that recycles Earth's lithospheric plates

Back 56

tectonic cycle

Front 57

predator that eats secondary consumers

Back 57

tertiary consumers

Front 58

the study of energy and its transformations

Back 58

thermodynamics

Front 59

area where tectonic plates slide sideways past each other

Back 59

transform boundary

Front 60

the process by which plants give off water vapor

Back 60

transpiration

Front 61

outermost layer of the two mantle layers; includes the asthenosphere and lower lithosphere; composed of solid rock, most of which flows due to convection currents within the mantle

Back 61

upper mantle

Front 62

process that breaks down rock through physical and chemical changes

Back 62

weathering